15
Dec 20

Performative Activism in Today’s Society

So many events that will go down in history have happened in the year 2020. Coronavirus, the Black Lives Matter movement, the 2020 presidential election, and so much more. People all over the world have shown their support towards these events, and many celebrities and social influencers have become involved in showing their activism. But how do we know they are being honest with the general public and not putting on a show to gain more positive attention?

With the rise of social media, the incoming wave of modern celebrities, and the new idea of “social influencers”, there is much to be discussed about something called performative activism. This type of activism is defined as “a pejorative term referring to activism done to increase one’s social capital rather than because of one’s devotion to a cause.” Basically, performative activism is something someone does to make themselves look like  a better person than they actually are, or showing beliefs they think that their audience would relate to which would increase their popularity. These are the people that make it difficult to bring real social change alive as they are putting on a show.

When something incredibly unjustifiable happens, such as the recent death of Geroge Floyd, many people became outraged and spoke out against the American judicial system. However, people who have never shown support for the racial predjudice experienced by many African Americans began to discuss how they have always been huge supporters. Some of these people may have even shown racist tendencies themselves, and have proven to be easily accessible when they are in the spotlight. Many celebrities have been exposed for supporting the BLM movement but have posted racial slurs on their social media. “Modern-day technology allows us to hide behind our screens and show others what we want them to see. Performative activism makes us question if people are actually changing their mindsets or simply appearing to do so out of fear of trying to go along with what they feel is a trend,” (Kelley, 2020).

Is there a way to tell if someone is being genuine online when it comes to social change? Writer McKenna Kelley says “if you refuse to implement your newfound education on racism in real-life environments and not just on social media, then you are not an ally,” (Kelley, 2020). Someone posting a demographic on their Instagram story, or reposting something onto SnapChat does not bring social change. Bringing action to the words you speak does! And this is what a lot of current celebrities and influencers don’t understand. Showing off on social media is not how you support a movement. 

References

Kelley, M. (2020, June 15). Performative Activism is Basically Silence. Here’s Why. Retrieved December 16, 2020, from https://swaay.com/performative-activism-silence-protest-allyship


15
Dec 20

The Uprise of Media Violence and it’s Effects on Children

In the past two decades, media and technology has changed in many incredible ways. We have social media sites such as Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat. We can shop online, order delivery to our homes, track the whereabouts of our family and friends, and so much more. I mean, we basically have tiny computers that we carry around everyday in our pockets that can provide us with information on almost anything we could want! However, there are many things that come along with this new media that is less than favorable.

Since basically anything is available to us on the internet, there is more than enough room for “bad things” to be discovered. One of the most commonly known is basic violence in TV and movies. There is violence no matter where you look. Although rates of actual violence around the country has dropped in the past few decades, propaganda has created the belief that crime is everywhere and that weapons are a necessity (Kaplan, 2012).

The idea that violent propaganda riddles our media is even worse when we consider how much of it is in media targeted towards children. For example, video games such as Call of Duty, GTA, and even Fortnite are all competitive single player games that promote different levels of violence. “…players who play either solo or competitively are more aggressive than players who played cooperatively,” (Gruman, 2016). This is especially evident when looking at children as they are easily influenced by what they observe more adult figures doing. They want to imitate what they see, and if what they are seeing is violence, the urge to participate will grow.

So how can we limit this? First, we must consider that it is impossible to shelter children from all media violence. However, it is definitely possible to greatly reduce their media intake and allow viewing in moderation. It is also extremely important for parents to discuss violent media with their children. “If your child asks you about something they saw in a movie or video game that was violent or ​graphic, be as candid as you can without going into too much detail…parental monitoring of media content, which includes watching something with your child and discussing what you saw, protects kids from the negative effects of violent media content, such as increased aggression,” (Lee, 2020). Keeping children, and even adults, away from violent media will lessen the chances of increased aggression.

References

Gruman, J. A.,  Schneider, F. W. , &. Coutts, L.M. (Eds.). (2016). Applied social psychology: Understanding and addressing social and practical problems 3rd edition. SAGE Publications.

Lee, K. (2020, June 08). Parents Can Limit Their Kids’ Exposure to Violence or Mature Content. Retrieved December 16, 2020, from https://www.verywellfamily.com/violence-in-the-media-621159

Kaplan, A. (2012, October 05). Violence in the Media: What Effects on Behavior? Retrieved December 16, 2020, from https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/violence-media-what-effects-behavior


14
Dec 20

Developing a Solution for Alcoholism in Early Adulthood

Alcohol addiction is something that not everyone takes as seriously as an addiction to drugs like cocaine, heroins, or opioids. Alcohol is a substance that is accepted greatly by our current society as it is legal to purchase and consume at age 21, and serve at age 18. In some countries, it is even common to see children around the age of 14 to begin drinking every now and then. In America, binge drinking is a huge problem among early adults from ages 18-25. This problem tends to develop around the time more emerging adults move off to college and experience the freedom to make their own decisions, leading to extensive partying and other risk behaviors. “One in six US adults binge drinks about four times a month, consuming about seven drinks per binge. This results in 17 billion total binge drinks consumed by adults annually, or 467 binge drinks per binge drinker,” (“Binge Drinking”).

In chapter 4 of our textbook, binge drinking was brought up for discussion relating to intervention usage. Of course, substance abuse is one of the first things we think of when the word “intervention” comes up in conversation. Although the textbook looked at the efforts Northern Illinois University has made to decrease binge drinking in college, it is important to look into the resources provided in your own area. Here at Penn State, there is one widely known program that helps students who are experiencing alcohol abuse called BASICS. BASICS is an intervention program that focuses on exploring an individual’s alcohol use, and provides different methods to assist someone in recognizing that they are in a situation they can make the effort to change in order to better themselves (“Alcohol Intervention”). This program consists of two on-hour meetings with a health professional, and is free to those who self-refer (“Alcohol Intervention”).

BASICS relates to the topics discussed in lesson 4 because it was heavily focused on the conduction of interventions and the different steps taken during them. Lesson 4 explains how we must first identify a problem, which is how substance abuse is incredibly harmful to both our physical and mental health. We then must recognize a solution, which would be to have one become more in control over their drinking habits, or even have them make the decision to choose sobriety. Following this, the goals set in this specific intervention is to “help you explore your alcohol use in a non-judgmental setting, reduce risky behavior, identify changes that could reduce your risk, and provide information and skills for risk-reduction,” (“Alcohol Intervention”). Finally, using the meetings that the program provides is how the intervention is implemented.

Alcohol Intervention (BASICS) Program. (n.d.). Retrieved December 15, 2020, from https://studentaffairs.psu.edu/health-wellness/alcohol-drug-education-recovery/alcohol-intervention-basics-program

Binge Drinking is a serious but preventable problem of excessive alcohol use. (2019, December 30). Retrieved December 14, 2020, from https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/binge-drinking.html


01
Dec 20

Lesson 8: Breaking The Negative Self Fulfilling Prophecy

The Self Fulfilling Prophecy is a sociological term used to describe a prediction that causes itself to become true. Thus, the process by which a persons expectations about someone or an event can lead that person to behave in ways that confirm those expectations. In 1948, Robert K. Merton coined the term self-fulfilling prophecy to describe “a false definition of the situation evoking a behavior which makes the originally false conception come true” (Merton, 1948, p. 477). In other words, a mis-representation of reality or guess at the truth that in turn caused behaviors that would end up making the hypothetical into an actual reality. Simply put, a false reality could actually become truth due to human psychological responses to predictions, fears, and worries associated with the future.

An example of this is the placebo effect. In this case a person experiences a beneficial outcome because even though they were given an inactive substance or treatment, they believed it would work even though it has no known medical effect. This can also be seen when a teacher holds certain expectations for students. Through social interaction the student is then lead to behave in such a manner that confirms the originally false expectations.

As we can see, there are two forms of self-fulfilling prophecies: Those which are self-imposed prophecies that occur due to our own expectations that influence our actions, and those imposed by others, such as others opinions we value, that occur and thus influence our behavior. Additionally, the Pygmalion effect is a type of other-imposed self-fulfilling prophecy that explains that the way we treat someone has a direct impact on how that person acts. If another person thinks something will happen, they may consciously or unconsciously. make it taken through their actions or inaction.

This evident relationships between our expectations and the reality that unfolds has significant implications for the future. So, how are some ways we can break the cycle of the negative self-fulfilling prophecy and create a positive one?

One suggestion is to first become aware of the self-fulfilling prophecy. This knowledge of how our expectations can impact our behaviors and that of those around us is fundamental to our self-awareness and thus ability to change it. Second is to actually change our beliefs. Most important is our self-talk and how we think about ourselves. Replacing negative self-talk with objectively more accurate expectations is a great way to shift perspective. Then, by practicing more positive self talk and being optimistic about ourselves and our performance. Through this our self-esteem improves are we begin to focus to who we want to be and what we want to do, rather than simply our current situations. Lastly, sometimes we may need to just fake it until we make it. In the beginning it may be difficult to make a change in thinking, but as we practice positive thinking, our behavior will change as well (N, 2019).

Resources

Merton, R. K. (1948). The self-fulfilling prophecyThe Antioch Review, 8(2), 193-210.

N., J. (2019, April 25). The Self-Fulfilling Prophecy: You Create Your Future. Retrieved December 01, 2020, from https://nobelcoaching.com/self-fulfilling-prophecy/


01
Dec 20

The Deserving vs the Undeserving Poor:   How Do We Deem Who’s Worthy?

Believe it or not Poor can de placed into two different categories: The Deserving Poor, and The Undeserving Poor. The deserving are those who are in need and are unable to work because they are too old, disabled, or too sick. The undeserving poor are those who don’t want to work, and often it is assumed that all able-bodied unemployed people fit into this category. In essence, the deserving poor can be thought of as those who cannot be blamed for their poverty; their poverty is not due to individual behavior or character flaws, but rather from  structural or macro forces well outside of an individuals control. Whereas conversely the undeserving poor can be thought of as poor people who have bad moral character, and do not deserve to be helped.

But who makes this distinction and on what systematic basis? Is it even reliable? Why aren’t tax amendments put in place to allocate a certain percentage of taxes from the rich to funding welfare programs and the like? Or why don’t large and highly profitable food companies donate goods to families and children in need that are currently going hungry? Will COVID push everlasting changes to this broken system? Or will we continue to fight only for ourselves rather than the wellbeing of our communities?

There are many questions to which there is extreme difficulty in finding concrete answers. Yet, we can’t help but ask ourselves, and our government, if what we’re doing is the best way to address extreme poverty. How ought we determine who is in need of assistance, how much, and of what type?

Since the idea of the deserving and undeserving poor can be linked to our understanding of the causes of poverty, such as if it was the result of agency or structure, shouldn’t all Americans affected by the forces in society that may have lead to an individuals poverty all receive some sort of financial benefit? For example, if your poverty is due to no fault of your own – structure – then you are often seen as deserving of help. Since the Coronavirus is of no fault of our own, then aren’t each of us who are experiencing extreme economic hardship entitled to some form of financial help? Or some relief in other ways? One proposal to lessen the financial burden for Americans could be to grant forgiveness of debt or large loans for school and or medical bills, as these institutions are extremely profitable. Another way would be for large corporations with high profit margins to give back to the communities that support them and donate money or goods and or services to those in need. Additionally, extremely wealthy individuals could donate food or assistance for rent or basic necessities to those who struggle the most to stay afloat in these troubling times.

We ought to consider the social dynamics of this historic time, and how we manifest inclusion, exclusion, and solidarity with one another. There are enough spare rooms and empty houses for everybody who is homeless. There is enough food produced to feed anybody and everybody who is hungry. And I believe that in order to face the resource depletion and other climate change realities that are just around the corner, we need to be experimenting now with alternative ways of relating to one another that are based on humanity and generosity, rather than self-interest and greed. It is imperative for our collective survival (Spade, 2020).

Dean Spade; Solidarity Not Charity: Mutual Aid for Mobilization and Survival. Social Text 1 March 2020; 38 (1 (142)): 131–151. doi: https://doi.org/10.1215/01642472-7971139


01
Dec 20

Lesson 5: The BioPsychoSocial-(Spiritual) Model

The BioPsychoSocial Model is a holistic perspective grounded in general systems theory and works to address health-related issues. It is based on the idea that suffering, disease, and illness are all affected by multiple levels of organization, from the societal to the molecular. It is a way of understanding a patients subjective experiences as an essential contributor to accurate diagnoses, health outcomes, and health care delivery.

Its central mission is to improve wellbeing, which can be defined as an overall state of health and happiness at the biological, psychological, and social levels. As such, we must consider the psychological, behavioral, and social dimensions that contribute to illness-related events.

The advantages of this perspective are in its holism; the awareness of levels of nature are considered, as well as it’s inclusiveness of diverse perspectives. This allows health-care practitioners to better understand and respond to the patients suffering. Recently, many researchers have proposed that the Biopsychosocial model be expanded to include a spiritual dimension as well. A researcher by the name of Katerndahl illustrated the relevance of spiritual symptoms and their interactions for understanding health outcomes. He noted that for holistic health care to be genuine, it must address the totality of a patients relational existence (Katerndahl, 2008). Similarly, the World Health Organization in 1948 adopted a definition of health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”. However, in 1999 it was proposed to be amended to insert spiritual well-being into the concept to be defined as “a dynamic state of complete physical, mental, spiritual and social well-being” (WHO, 1999).

Although spirituality has received many definitions by many different authors, it can perhaps be most comprehensively defined as “the search for ultimate meaning, purpose and significance, in relation to oneself, family, others, community, nature, and the sacred, expressed through beliefs, values, traditions and practices”.

This connection to the essence of life is ubiquitous and experienced by each human at some point in his or her life, and I believe it is worth while to include this dimension in considering truly holistic health care practices and treatments. In order for us to truly work with and improve every aspect of human experiences, we absolutely should explore further the implications spiritual health has on our wellbeing and subjective health.

References

WHO (World Health Organization) Fifty-Second World Health Assembly. 1999 Apr 7; Available online: http://apps.who.int/gb/archive/pdf_files/WHA52/ew24.pdf.

 Katerndahl D.A. Impact of Spiritual Symptoms and Their Interactions on Health Services and Life Satisfaction. Ann. Fam. Med. 2008;6:412–420. doi: 10.1370/afm.886


01
Dec 20

Lesson 10: Overcoming the Fundamental Attribution Error

The Fundamental Attribution Error, also known as correspondence bias or the over-attribution effect, is the tendency for people to over-emphasize dispositional or personality-based explanations for behaviors observed in others while under-emphasizing the situational explanations. More simply put, people tend to have a cognitive bias to assume that a persons actions depend on what kind of a person they are rather than the social and environmental forces that influence that person.

The Fundamental Attribution Error can significantly influence how people, including ourselves, judge others. Thus, it is extremely important to understand it, and the ways in which it can perpetrate our distorted cognitions without our conscious awareness.

Generally, we form impressions of others character based on pieces of the situation, and we never see the whole picture. While it would be ideal to give people the benefit of the doubt, our brains tend to use the limited information we have to make judgements. It can be seen in any and all misunderstandings in which human motivations have the potential to be misinterpreted.

For example, an employee may be late to an important event and thus be seen as “lazy”, with fellow coworkers inclined to form a judgement of their character based on the one action alone. However, it is possible that their behavior was due to several external, rather than internal, factors. For example, any number of situational factors could have caused them to run behind schedule, such as a traffic jam or a family emergency, which have nothing to do with the quality of their character. In perceiving this person as lazy however, your opinions of them may begin to shift over time, and unless an opportunity rises for you to get to know them better, you may always view them in a negative light.

So how do we overcome this error of thinking? One suggestion by Harvard Business Online is to enhance our emotional intelligence. This involves “practicing self-awareness, empathy, self-regulation, and other methods of becoming more objective in the service of ones long term interests and the interests of others” (Healy, 2008). Practicing empathy, in particular, such as having discussions with others about their opinions is a good first step. They note that while it is impossible to overcome completely, with a combination of awareness and some tools and tactics we may become more gracious and empathetic of others. This will allow us to acknowledge cognitive biases such as the Fundamental Attribution Error, and we can make conscious efforts to limit its effects.

References

Healy, P. (2017, June 08). Fundamental Attribution Error: What It Is & How to Avoid It. Retrieved December 01, 2020, from https://online.hbs.edu/blog/post/the-fundamental-attribution-error


01
Dec 20

Lesson 12: Forgiveness as Emotion-Focused Coping for Addiction

Emotion-focused coping is a form of stress management that attempts to reduce negative emotional responses that occur due to exposure to stressors. These negative emotions can include experiences such as fear, anxiety, aggression, depression, and humiliation. Emotion-focused coping involves engaging in behaviors and cognitions that do not directly address the source of the stress. Instead, they aim to reduce an individuals level of emotional distress.

One form of emotion-focused coping is addiction. The American Society of Addiction Medicine defines addiction as “a brain disease indicated by cravings, inability to abstain from the behavior or substance, dysfunctional emotional responses, and a loss of behavioral control” (American Society of Addiction Medicine, 2020).

There are many different reasons as to why an individual may turn to drugs or alcohol, such as to use mind-altering substances to help cope in stressful times, or in dealing with difficult emotions, physical ailments, and other issues. These temporary ‘solutions’ offer a short-lived respite from the realities of every day life. They can also enhance the sensations of pleasure as well as decrease anxiety and inhibitions.

Coping mechanisms can be thought of as compulsions, or unconscious and perhaps mindless habits that have formed over time, and serve to help a person manage their unhappiness with a particular situation or their stress levels. Not all coping mechanisms are destructive or maladaptive. However, addiction is certainly both.

Addictions take on many different forms such as internet usage, eating, gambling, sex, and of course drugs and alcohol. I work at a Residential Treatment center where clients come from all over the country for holistic rehabilitation and learn many new coping skills to help them deal with their difficult emotions in healthier ways. One pillar of emotion-focused coping we emphasize is the power of forgiveness. In a research study conducted by Worthington and Scherer, they found that forgiveness is an emotion-focused coping strategy that can reduce stressful reactions to a transgression (Worthington & Scherer, 2004). Additionally, it serves as an emotional juxtaposition of positive emotions such as empathy, sympathy, compassion and love, against the negative emotions of unforgiveness. As resentments have been shown to be a significant driving factor in addictions, perhaps forgiveness can be used as a clinically significant suggestion of emotion-focused coping in place of addition behaviors and more research can be conducted in the future for the health and wellbeing of suffering populations.

References

American Society of Addiction Medicine. (n.d.). Retrieved December 01, 2020, from https://www.asam.org/quality-practice/definition-of-addiction

Everett L. Worthington Jr. & Michael Scherer (2004) Forgiveness is an emotion-focused coping strategy that can reduce health risks and promote health resilience: theory, review, and hypotheses, Psychology & Health, 19:3, 385-405, DOI: 10.1080/0887044042000196674


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